Automobile elevating and supporting structure



Nov. 2, 1937.

E. J. FE HR ET AL AUTOMOBILE ELEVATING AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 20, 1953 -f/\/\/s/\/Toes- EUGENE J FEE/4e KENNETH J TOE/N HTTY Nov. 2, 1937. E. J. FEHR ET AL AUTOMOBILE ELEVATING AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed Marh 20, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Q-Z Nov. 2, 1937.

E. J. FEHR ET AL AUTOMOBILE ELEVATING AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I Filed March 20, 1955 Nov. 2, 1937. E. J. FEHR ET AL AUTOMOBILE ELEVATING.AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 20, 1933 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 III nmuulillmlnumu R) '1 "farmmmm g} I,

EU ENE J FEH/Q KENNETH J. 7ZD6/A/ Nov. 2, 1937. E. J. FEHR ET AL AUTOMOBILE ELEVATING AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 20, 1933 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 y q m 'fA/vEA/Toes- Eus ENE J. FsHe Nov. 2, 1937. E. J. FEHR ET AL I AUTOMOBILE ELEVATING AND SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed March 20, 1953 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 -//\/1/5/\/7'o/as- EUGENE J. FEHE KENNETH J. 7225//\/ 5) QTTY Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE ELEVATING AND SUPPORT- ING STRUCTURE Eugene J. Fehr, Hammond, Ind., and Kenneth J.

Tobin, Chicago, 111., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Evans Products Company, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Application March 20, 1933, Serial No. 661,778

11 Claims. (Cl. 105368) v This invention relates to automobile elevating A further object is to provide novel supportand supporting structures, ing and bracing means for railway housecars It is an object of this invention to provide embodying a portion of the lining of said cars. automobile elevating and supporting structures A further object is to provide automobile supcapable of ready installation in carrier vehicles, por ing structures for railway house cars com- 5 particularly of the railway house car ty e, with pri in bar and bracing m said m ns a minimum of modification of said vehicles and ins Capable o being mov d With said bars to without affecting the utility of said vehicles for inoperative P ion Within the cars. the shipment of other comm ditie th rein, Other objects will become clear as the descrip- 1 A further object is to provide automobile eletion of the invention proceeds.

vating and supporting structures in which the n h drawings f r p r f h specifi aforce required to lift the automobiles is reduced t o to a minimum. Figure 1 is a side elevation of a railway house A further object is to provide automobile ele- C W a e Wall t of removed Showing vating and supporting structures in which the the application 0f the invention for the pelevating friction is materially reduced. merit of automobiles;

A further object is to provide automobile ele- Fi ure 2 is a transverse section taken on line vating and supporting structures arranged to -4 of Figure 1; transfer the weight of the automobiles to the Figure 3 is a fragmentary V ew Similar to substructure of the vehicle in which the auto- Fi ur 1 on an enlarged scale showing an ele- 20 mobiles are to be transported. Veted automobile;

A further object is to provide automobile ele- Figure 4 is a partial Side el vation 01 an envating and supporting structures capable of adlarged Scale Showing the Supporting d elejustment to support automobiles of different Vii-ting Structure Of the invention;

widths, Figure 5 is an end view of Figure 4, parts be- 25 A further object is to provide automobile ele- S n in S o vating and supporting structures for carrier ve- Figure 6 s a horizo tal section taken on line hicles including bars movable to inoperative pof Fi ure 4 with the au omobile wheel shown sition within said vehicles and operating means n Said fi e t d; movable upon said bars. Figure '7 is a View similar to Figure 6 with the 30 A further object is to provide automobile eleautomobile W l. engaging member omitted. and vating and supporting structures comprising bars parts of t e bracing mechanism illustrated in positioned between the innerlinings of the car their inoperative positions;

sides and members carrying operating mecha- Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation, parts enism movable upon said bars, ing shown in section illustrating the assembled 35 A further object is to provide automobile eleposition between e Supporting S ctu e and vating and supporting structures for railway Certain f the braces therefor; house cars comprising bars movable to inopera- Figure 9 is a hor n al Section taken on line tive position in said cars and members carry- 9-9 of Figure 5; '10 mg automobile engaging means and operating Figure 10 is a View Similar to Figure 4 S W- mechanism movable upon said bars. s a m fi bracing and pp t st u ture; A further object is to provide permanent auto- Figure 11 is an d V ew Of the structure mobile elevating structures for railway house shown in Figure 10 With Parts in Section; cars comprising a bar and means movable upon Figure 12 is a horizontal section taken on line said bar, said structures being mounted for disl2l2 of Figure 11; 45 posal in said cars so as to permit transporta- Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 4 showtion of commodities other than automobiles. ing a ur modified bracing d pp tin A further object is to provide novel bracing structure; means. for automobile supporting structures. Figure 14 is an end view of the structure shown A further object is to provide novel elevating in Fi ure pa ts appe in sect on; 50 and supporting structures embodying bracing Figure 15 is an enlarged elevation showing the means. structure illustrated in Figure 14 in its stored A further object is to provide novel supportor inoperative position; ing and bracing means for railway house cars Figure 16 is a vertical section taken on line embodying a portion of the floor of said cars. lfi-IG of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of a lower corner of the structure shown in Figure 13; and

Figure 18 is a vertical section taken on line |8|8 of Figure 17.

Referring to the drawings a railway house car I0 is utilized for the purpose of illustrating the instant invention with the understanding, however, that said invention is applicable to vehicles of other types as well. The house car l0 com-- prises, generally, side walls H and I2 having wooden linings l3 and 4 which, as clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, stop short of the floor |5 of the car. The sidewalls H and I2 embody metallic side plates l6 and I1 upon which the roof structure I8, comprising a plurality of spaced carlines I9 and roof sheets 20, is supported. The underframing of the car includes a center sill 2|, bolsters 22 and 23 and. side sills 24 and 25 which are connected to the bolsters'22 and 23.

It is to be noted from Figure 1' of the drawings that four automobiles are positioned within the house car 8 for transportation. In order to permit the shipment of four automobiles the two end automobiles are elevated so that sufficient space may be provided for two intermediate automobiles which, as illustrated, are positioned with their wheels supported upon the floor of the car. To provide the necessary space for the intermediate automobiles the end automobiles must be completely elevated above the floor of the car. The intermediate automobiles are fastened to the floor of the car by means of chain hold-down devices 26 which preferably embrace the wheels of the automobile and which have hooked engagement at their ends with anchoring devices 21 secured in the floor of the car.

The elevating and supporting structure of the instant invention is utilized to elevate and support one end of the elevated automobiles above the floor |5 of the car. This structure comprises, for each elevated automobile, a plurality of bars 28 and 29, positioned in transverse spaced relation with their upper endssecured respectively to the side plates l6 and I1. For'the purpose of thissecurement the upper end of each of the bars 28 and 29 has attached thereto a member 30 provided with an elongated slot 3|, as shown in Figure 3' of the drawings, through which a pin or rivet 32, supported in a bracket 33 secured to the side plates, extends. From their attachment to the side plates of the car the supporting bars 28 and 29 extend downwardly in converging relationship for a desired distance and then lie in parallel relationship perpendicular to the floor of the car. To provide the necessary strength in the supporting bars the parallel portions 34 and 35 thereof are of larger diameter than the converging portions 36 and 31. Each of these portions of the supporting bars is preferably tubular so that by the insertion of connecting members 38 and 39 in the adjacent ends thereof the said portions may be securely fastened together. Rivets 48 are shown for this purpose. In the supporting position of the bars 28 and 29 their lower ends are seated within members 4| secured preferably in the floor of the car and providing upwardly opening channels 42 extending transversely of the car. -It is apparent that by this construction the weight, which may be incident upon the supporting bars, will be transferred to the underframe of the car and will not be carried by the roof or superstructure thereof. Seating of the lower ends of the bars within the members 4| may be obtained in view of the provision of the elongated slot 3| in the member 30. By means of this provision, furthermore, and the transversely extending upwardly opening channel formed in each of the members 4| the supporting bars 28 and 29 may be adjusted toward or away from each other so as to render them capable of supporting automobiles of difierent widths.

Each of the parellel portions 34 and 35 of the supporting bars 28 and 29, respectively, is provided with an automobile supporting and elevating device. Each of the portions 34 and 35 is provided with a rack bar 43 secured in any desired manner to said parallel portions of the bar and preferably to that part of each of the bars adjacent the linings I3 and M of the car. A sleeve 44 is slidably mounted upon each portion 34 and 35 and carries a housing 45 within which operating mechanism, comprising a worm 46, a worm gear 41 meshed with the Worm 46 and a pinion 48 mounted upon a shaft 49 which carries the worm gear 4|,is housed.

The sleeve 44 is provided, additionally, with vertical spaced flanges 50 and 5|, respectively, which in turn carry the inwardly directed flanges 52 and 53. As clearly shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, this flange structure extends oppositely from the housingstructureprovided.on the sleeve and the inwardly directed flanges 52 and 53 lie in spaced relation to the sleeve. The space between the inturned flanges 52 and 53 and the sleeve as well as the space between said inturned flanges is covered at the bottom of said flanges by means of a wall 54. By virtue of the construction of the fiangesabove referred to the sleeve 44 is adapted to interlockingly receive the wheel engaging and support-member 55 provided with outwardly turned flanges such as 56 received within the spaces between the inturned flanges 52 and 53 and the wheel receiving member. In this position the wheel engaging and supporting member 55 is adapted to rest upon the wall 54. In view of the-fact that the pinion is positioned in meshing engagement with the rack bar 43 the sleeve 44, together with the operating mechanism and the wheel supporting member 55 will move as a unit upon a'vertical portion 34 or 35 of the supporting bars upon actuation of the crank 5'! which may be utilized with the operating mechanism. It may be observed that by the end automobiles are loaded first and given their elevated position. To this end the automobile wheel engaging and supporting members are positioned through actuation of the operating devices upon the floor of the car; The wheels at one end of the automobile are then placed in their respective supporting members whereupon movement of the operating devices upon actuation of the crank 51 in the proper direction will effect elevation of said end of the automobile. The wheels at said end may. then be fastened to their supporting members by means of the holddown chains 25- and said supporting members properly braced. The other end of the automobile, the front end as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, may then be hoisted by any desired means and the wheels at said end positioned within supporting members 59 adjustably secured to bars 60 pivoted, as indicated at 6|, to the sideplatesof the car. As clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings each of these wheels is fastened to its supporting member by means of a hold-down device 26. After this operation has been carried out with regard to each of the end elevated automobiles the intermediate automobiles may be loaded into the car and fastened to the floor thereof as hereinbefore set forth.

In order to properly brace the elevated end of the automobile which is supported upon the bars 28 and 29 the present structure illustrated in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive, may be employed. This structure comprises a plurality of oppositely ex tending channel bars 62 and 63 pivotally fastened, as indicated at 64, to a collar 65 secured adjacent the lower end of each of the supporting bars. Bars 66 and 61 are pivotally secured to the channel bars 62 and 63 adjacent the outer ends thereof. The outer ends of each of the bars 66 and 61 are formed with hook portions 68 and 69, respectively, each of which, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, is adapted tolie within an anchoring device 21 and engage under a cross member 10 carried by said anchoring device. The opposite ends of the. bars 66 and 61 are turned upwardly, as indicated at H and I2, and are adapted to be received between the spaced flanges l3 and 14 depending from the underside of the wheel supporting member 55. These ends of the bars are adapted to be engaged with said flanges by means of pins 16 and "I7 extending through aligned openings formed in said ends and said flanges.

Additionally, brace bars 18 and 19 are utilized. These bars, as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, embody the turnbuckles and 8! whereby they are rendered adjustable. One end of each of the bars 18 and i9 is pivotally fastened at a side wall by means of bolts 62 in such manner that in their inoperative position these bars may be retained upon the floor of the car under the lining of the side walls by means of clips C pivotally secured to the inner lining, as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings. The opposite ends of the brace bars 18 and 19 are adapted to be secured to the depending flanges i3 and 14 of the automobile wheel supporting members by means of the pins 716 and I! which secure the brace bars 66 and 6'! thereto. By this construc- 'tion it is apparent that an effective bracing is provided for the wheel supporting members carried upon the supporting bars 28 and 29.

After the automobiles have been unloaded from the car ID the supporting bars, the bracing means and the bars 66 may be stored in inoperativeposition within the car so that said car may be utilized for the shipment of any other commodities. The pins 16 and. 17 which secure certain of the ends of the brace bars 66-61 and 18-79 to the wheel supporting member are withdrawn. The wheel supporting members are disengaged from the sleeves 46 and, together with the hold-down chains, may be stored in receptacles provided on the car below the floor. The bars 66 and 61 are then positioned within the channel bars 62 and 63, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings. The channel bars are then swung about their pivotal connections 64 into a vertical plane adjacent the supporting bars 28 and 29 and are secured to said bars by means of chains 83 carried by said bars and engaging the hooked portions 66 and 69 formed on the brace bars 66 and 61. The bars 29 and 29 may then be lifted out of the members 4| andswung about their upper ends to a position adjacent the roof of the car and supported by means of rings 84 through which the ends of the bars 26 and 29 extend. In

this .position disengagement from the rings is avoided by means of toggle bolts or pins. 85 secured to one of the carlines of the roof construction. The brace bars 18 and 19 are then positioned under the linings l3 and I4 as above res ferred to. The wheel supporting members 59 and the hold-down chains may also be removed from the bar 60 and stored within said receptacles, whereupon the bars 60 may be swung to position adjacent the roof of the car and supported there by means of hooks.

While the present means shown in Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, has been referred to simply as bracing structure it is clear that such means may be and preferably is used to support the weight of the rear end of the automobile and thus relieve the bars 28 and 29 and the lifting mechanism of this function. This is accomplished by lowering the wheel engaging members 55 until the weight of the rear end of the automobile has been transferred to the bars 66 and 61, the lower ends of which abut against the anchoring devices 21 to resist the thrust thus imposed upon said bars. The hook portions 6B-69 of said bars engage the cross members 10 and the anchoring devices and aid in preventing longitudinal and elevating movements of said bars; In Figures 10 to 18, inclusive, modified structures are illustrated which are capable of bracing and more effectively carrying the load of the rear end of the automobile, thus preventing stresses from being set up in the elevating mechanism bars 28 and 29. The'modification shown in Figures 10 to 12, inclusive, includes a bracing and supporting member 86 which constitutes in its inoperative position a portion of the floor of the car. This member, as clearly shown in Figure 12 of the drawings, is formed preferably of wooden floor boards 8'! disposed within the flanged metallic reinforcing plate 66. The end of the member 86 adjacent the side wall of the railway house car is pivoted to the substantially Z-shaped'members 89 and 96 which, together with the plate'member 9!, provide a metallic frame for the opening 92 formed in the floor I5 of the house car and within which the member 66 is received in its inoperative position. The pivotal connection between the member 86 and the frame referred to is indicated at 93. It will be observed that the plate 9| overlaps the adjacent edge of the floor at the opening 92 therein as indicated at 94 in order to close the joint which is formed between the member 86 and said edge of the floor when said member is positioned in the opening.

In order to utilize the bracing and supporting member 86 the wheels of one end of an automobile are elevated above the floor of the car. The member 86 may then be swung from its horizontal to a vertical position as clearly shown in Figure 11 of the drawings. In this position said member lies beneath the wheel engaging and supporting member 55. After the member 66 has been given its vertical position the wheel receiving member is lowered until it rests upon theupper end of the bracing and supporting member. The weight of the illustrated end of the automobile is preferably sustained by said bracing and supporting member which, additionally, is notched out as indicated at 95 in order to provide a seat for the reception of reinforcement ribs 96 so as to prevent longitudinal movement of the wheel engaging member relative to the member 86. A plurality of adjustable braces 91 pivotally secured to the bolt 82 positioned adjacent the side wall of the railway house car may 7 4 be utilized'to maintain the member 86 in its vertical position. The free ends of the bracing members 91 extend through links 98 carried by the wheel engaging members 55 and into the bracing and supporting member 86 for this purpose. It

will be evident that by the extension of the free ends of the bracing members 91 through the links 98, accidental vertical displacement of the wheel engaging members 55 will be avoided. It is apparent that the bracing and supporting member 86, after the automobile has been taken from the railway house car will be disposed within the opening 92 so as to complete the floor structure I5 of the car and permit the shipment of other commodities therein.

A further modified bracing and supporting construction is illustrated in Figures 13 to 18, inclusive. In this construction the bracing and supporting member 99 comprises the wooden portion I00 positioned within a metallic frame II. This frame may, as clearly shown in the drawings, be formed of vertical angle members I02 and I03, a horizontal angle member I04 and a top horizontal Z-bar I05. Gusset plates I06 may be utilized to secure the frame members together and diagonal braces I01 and I08 connected to the gusset plates may be utilized to reinforce the member 99. A plurality of spaced clips I09 and H0 are secured to the upper portion of the member 99 and cooperate with the Z-shaped frame member I 05 for a. purpose hereinafter described. The vertical margins of the bracing and supporting member 99 carry eyes III and H2 which receive pintles I I3 and H4 provided by the outturned ends of bracing rods H5 and H6. These bracing rods are rendered adjustable by means of the turnbuckle constructions III and H8 and the lower ends of said rods are pivotally retained adjacent the side wall of the railway house car by means of the J bolts 82. Adjacent the lower corners of the bracing and supporting member latches H9 and I20 are provided. Each of these latches, as clearly shown in Figures 17 and 18 of the drawings, comprises a hooked shaped member I2I rigidly secured to the member 99 and the vertically movable and pivoted member I22.

The above described bracing and supporting structure is shown in its operative position in Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings. In this position the member 99 is disposed vertically so as to underlie and support the wheel engaging member 55 in order to carry the weight of the portion of the automobile disposed in said member. As clearly appears in Figure 13 of the drawings, the wheel engaging member 55 is provided with a strap I 23, the ends of which are upturned and riveted to flanges provided on the wheel engaging member 55, as indicated at I24 and I25. The intermediate portion of this strap is narrower in width than the ends thereof so as to be capable of disposal between the upturned fianges'of. the Z- shaped framing member I05 and the Z-shaped clips I09 and II 0. By this construction it is apparent that relative longitudinal shifting between the buckets and the bracing and supporting member 99 is prevented. The member 99 is maintained in its operative position by means of the latches H9 and I20. As clearly shown in Figures 14 and 18 of the drawings the floor I5 adjacent the member 99 is gained out as indicated at I26 and this gained portion covered in part by means of a metallic plate I21 which, as appears in Figure 18, extends into the-gained out portion I26. In positioning the member 99, then, the

hook member I2I is positioned within the gained out portion I26 so as to lie in overlapping relationship with the inwardly extending part of the plate I21 and to prevent accidental disengagement of the bottom of the bracing and supporting member 99 from the plate I21 the slidable and pivotal member I22 is positioned within the gained out portion I26. and I I6, also, serve to maintain the member 99 in its operative position. It clearly appears from Figure 13 of the drawings that the wheel received within the wheel engaging member 55 may be secured to said member by means of a chain holddoWn device.

In its inoperative position the bracing and supporting member 99 as utilized constitutes a portion of the inner lining of the side wall of the railway house car. As clearly shown in Figures 15 and 16 of the drawings the member 99 is swung upwardly into alignment with the fixed lining M of the car and supported in this position by means of the bracing rods I I5 and II 6. To maintain said member in the position indicated any desired means, such as latching devices I28 and I29, may be utilized.

To dispose the member 99 in its above described operative relationship with the floor of the car the latching devices I28 and I29 are retracted and said member moved downwardly. During this movement the lower ends of the bars H5 and H6 swing downwardly about the bolts 82 while the member 99 swings about the pintles H3 and H4 formed on the upper ends of said bars, whereby said member may assume the Vertical position shown in Figures 13 and 14. To move the member 99 to inoperative position it is released from its engagement with the floor by swinging the pivoted members I22 out of the gained out portions I26 of the floor and the hook members I M disengaged from the floor plates I21. The member 99 may then be swung upwardly about the bars H5 and H6 into the position shown in Figures 15 and 16 where it is maintained by the latching devices I28 and I29.

It is apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended,

therefore, that all such modifications and changes I be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

We claim:

1. In a railway house car, an automobile elevating and supporting structure comprising a plurality of opposed transversely spaced substantially vertical members, means mounted upon each of said members capable of sliding movement thereon, operating mechanism carried by each of said means for imparting movement thereto and automobile engaging and supporting devices attached to said means and lying between said members, said members being adjustable toward and away from each other to support automobiles of different widths.

2. In an automobile elevating and supporting structure for carrier vehicles comprising, in combination, substantially vertically extending means, a member carrying an automobile supporting element mounted upon said means capable of movement thereon and operating mechanism carried by said member, said means and said operating mechanism having operatively engaged devices, whereby said operating mechanism is capable of movement upon said means to impart vertical movement to said member and support- The bracing rods II5 ing element, said means being swingably secured in a railway house car to enable said means, said member and said operating mechanism to be swung to inoperative position adjacent the roof of said car.

3. An automobile supporting structure for carrier vehicles comprising, in combination, a substantially vertically extending member, substantially horizontal arms secured to and extending in opposite directions from said member, automobile supporting means slidably embracing said member and bars secured to said horizontal arms and said automobile supporting means.

4, In a railway house car, in combination, a substantially vertically extending member in said car, oppositely extending arms secured to said member adapted to be positioned upon the floor of said car, automobile supporting means carried by said member and bars pivotally secured to said arms and adapted to be connected to said .automobile supporting means.

5. In a railway house car, in combination, a substantially vertically extending member in said car, oppositely extending substantially channel shaped arms pivotally secured to said member adapted to be positioned upon the floor of said car, automobile supporting means carried by said member and bars pivotally secured to said arms and adapted to be connected to said automobile supporting means, said bars in inoperative position being seated in said channel shaped arms whereby said arms and said bars may be swung adjacent said vertically extending member and means for fastening said bars and arms to said latter member.

6. In a railway house car having a floor, in combination, a substantially vertically extending member, automobile supporting means carried by said member, and means secured to and adapted to lie in said floor, said means being swingable to vertical position tosupport said automobile supporting means and transmit the load thereon to the substructure of the car.

7. In an automobile elevating and supporting structure for carrier vehicles, in combination, substantially vertically extending means, a member mounted upon said means capable of movement relative thereto, automobile engaging means attached to and movable with said member, operating mechanism carried by said member for imparting movement thereto and means for bracing said automobile engaging means, said bracing means extending from said automobile engaging means downwardly to said vehicle whereby said bracing means is adapted to support said automobile engaging means and carry the load imposed thereon to said vehicle.

8. In a railway house car having a floor and an inner lining, in combination, a substantially vered to be disposed beneath and in engage tically extending member, automobixgiport apt- i with said automobile supporting means and sea ing means carried by said member, means floor to support said latter means and carry the 5 weight thereof to said car, said second mentioned means in the inoperative position thereof constituting a portion of the lining of said car.

9. In a railway house car having a floor and a side wall provided with a lining, a portion of said lining being bodily removable for disposition vertically upon the floor of the car to constitute an automobile supporting member, means for reiniorcing said portion of said lining and releasable means carried by said portion of the lining for securing the same in operative position to the the floor of said car.

10. An automobile decking device for railway freight cars and the like, said device comprising vertically disposed means, means securing said vertically disposed means at its upper end in said car for longitudinally swingable movement to inoperative position adjacent the roof of said car, a member slidably mounted upon said vertically disposed means, automobile engaging means carried by said member and operating mechanism carried by said member, said mechanism being associated with said vertically disposed means for imparting sliding movement to said member,

whereby said device in its operative position is capable of elevating and supporting said automobile in elevated position and in inoperative position, said vertically disposed means together with said member and its operating mechanism are capable of disposition adjacent the roof of said car.

11. An automobile decking structure for the transportation of automobiles in railway house cars and the like comprising a plurality of separate opposed units, each of said units having a vertical member hinged at its upper end adjacent the roof of said car for swinging movement longitudinally of said car, said member extending substantially to the floor of said car, a self-contained device carrying operating mechanism mounted upon said member for movement therealong, automobile supporting means adapted to receive a wheel of said automobile carried by said device, said device being operable to dispose said means upon the floor of said car for receiving said automobile wheel and to elevate said automobile above said floor and means for fastening said wheels to their respective supporting means, said units being independently swingable to a position adjacent the roof of said car for the purpose set forth.

EUGENE J. FEHR. KENNETH J. TOBIN. 

